Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-04-07
FROM POVERTY TO AFFLU.
ENCE.
"Sticking Closer Than a
Brother" Has Made
Men Rich.
From Small Beginnings to Large
findings.
The Stone that Gathers the Moss.

| .ILis no disgrace to be poor. IL it were a dis
/ grace to be rich people would prefer the disgrace
| of poverty: but it is quite convenient to be pos
sessed of some worldly goods. to keep grim pov-
ery from the door. There are many men in
Western Kansas who have felt the pnching pangs
| of hunger and poverty. They came from their
eastern homes. hoping to better their condition in
the west They chose wisely, though they have
| undergone many hardships and suffered many pri-
vations Coming west with little money, many
t1nen-with families with only sufficient money to
pay land office fees for entry of land, how to pro-
vide even the scanty means necessary, was a prob
Hem that stared before them like ghost stalking
abroad The rudcst dug out and houses afforded
shelter, and the plainest food provided sustenance
| to many of our afiuent settlers. "RufaIo
/ chips furnished fuel to many families, coal being
| an immense luxury. Those settlers who came
here previous to the drOuth of 1879 passed through
some trying times. In their contcntment now
they can look back with feelings of gratiica-
ton, knowing that wealth honestly obtained
through many hardships is a boon that can be APP
preciated. Picking up buffalo bones and cattle
bones was profitable industry with many settlers,
teamng and freighting, too, offered good business,
and the proceeds of the labor supplied the family
larder. Until within few years past farming
was not extensive in this section of Kansas, the
cattle raising in former days being the industry
that was profitable. Now this region Of country is
taken up by the horny handed son of toll, and the
plow Will do the work of development. Mixed
farming and stock raising, and corn and hogs, will
| be profitable industries in the future.
But started out to tell of few settlers, whose
personal history in Western Kansas, we are well
acquainted with We know Of some men who
came here With barely enough money to carry
them here. who now rich and doing well.
They came here with true hearts, and determined
to weather the storms of adversely and to share in
prosperity. There We're some families, in the
drOuth of 1879, who could not leave here if they
desired. There are some who remained through
choice but many settlers pulled up stakes and
went 'back to their wives folks 1t is the rolling
stone that gathers moss, and the maxim has
proved itself in the of many of our settlers.
| 1t required courage to remain here in the dark
days, but through their perseverance ample re-
wards have been made. We presume the history
of the pioneer is the the world over. We
will be pardoncd for using the names of some of
our well known settlers in sketchinc this brief
history for the benefit of the tcndcrfoot.
We remember well when Fred Enderley arrived
here with few household goods, some time before
the drOuthy time He secured some hay land, and
notwithstanding repeated revcrses, by hard stint
| and continued industry he has accumulated two
quarter sections of valuable lands has some stock
and owns some town property He passed through
some hardships that we know stouter hearts
| amply provided
The experience of Nick Mayrath is full of vic
issitude, and he can recount many privations in
order to comfortable home. Nick has
made vegetable raising a success, and farming,
stock raising and tree culture has been successful
with him. lie came here in 1873, and his faith in
the ultimate favorable outcome is making u re-
ward
| Charles DickersOn knows what ''holding down
| claim means The drouth of 1879 blasted his
farmer hopes, and engaging in teaming in Dodge
he was soon after enabled to 20 into business
pursuit. His success was well assured, and Char
lie can now count his possessions by the thea
sands Of dollars.
j. II. Crawford is one of most prosperous
men, and owner of considerable town and farming
property. Mr.. Crawford has experienced some of
the severest hardships and endured the privations
incident to the early settler, but he is guaranteed
a competence to help him in the declining years of
life.
One of the most prosperous merchants in the
city is l.. X. Mcintyre. In 1873 Mac located on
Crooked Creek, and alternated in following hay
making and. avoiding the savages who ex-
curling and depredating through the country at
that time. Engaging in mercantile pursuits soon
after, he has gradually rose up the ladder of
wealth, and is counting his thousands yearly, in
possession of lands and city property.
James Zerbe, one of our enterprisng farmers on
Duck creek, came here in 1873. He has made
farming q success. He has large number Of
acres of ground under cultivation. His comfort
able house and pleasant surroundings show what
| can be done, commencing with only two indus
trious hands and willing heart. Mr.. Zerbc cX-
perienced the drouth in $3.50, but he has-weath-
cred all of the storms, and reverses, and is well
| fixed.
We could name scores of men in Ford county
who have made farming q success, of course they
had scanty means to begin WITH and were lily pro-
| vided with the necessary arrangements for farm
| ing. But they commenced in a small way, until
they are'amply provided and have horses, cattle,
| hogs, sheep, chickens &c, have good comfortable
houses, and are living in cOntentment and plenty.
There are many early settlers here in this county
who would not exchange places for the proudest
and best positions in the east They have faith in
| the future of this portion of Kansas. They know
| from experience that the plow is the agent that
will restore this country, and which is redeeming
this arid waste, and making it blossom the rose.
| We might go on and give a hundred instances
| Of the successful career of men, who have raised
| from apparent poverty to afiluence. But have
narrated few, and these ought TO be sufficient
| guarantees that success in Western Kansas, like
| in all other countries, is accorded to him who will
put his trust God, his hand to the plOv and his
| energies and talents to better his condition,
the condition of his family and the welfare of his
| fellow man.